From the mind of New Jersey native, Kevin Smith, comes one the most self-aware comedies I think I’ve ever seen. A glorious mash-up of pop culture references, dick and fart jokes that are actually funny, and some hilarious use of the fourth wall. A no holds barred party, where everyone involved is in on the jokes, and just having a blast with this production. A greatest hits reel of Kevin Smith’s earlier films, as well as a fun examination of everything cool and not so cool about Hollywood.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back has a devil-may-care vibe about it. Almost like it was filmed on the fly, and written as it was shot. Allowing its all-star cast the freedom to ham up their performances and ad lib, as they catalog their own movie hits and misses, like in this scene with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on the set of Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season!

Matt Damon: Hey shove it, Bounce-boy. Let’s remember who talked who into doing this shit in the first place. Talking me into Dogma was one thing, but this…

Ben Affleck: Hey look, I’m sorry I dragged you away from whatever-gay-serial-killers-who-ride-horses-and-like-to-play-golf-touchy-feely-picture you’re supposed to be doing this week.

Matt Damon: I take it you haven’t seen Forces of Nature?

Ben Affleck: You’re like a child. What’ve I been telling you? You gotta do the safe picture. Then you can do the art picture. But then sometimes you gotta do the payback picture because your friend says you owe him.

[They both take a beat and look at the camera]

Ben Affleck: And sometimes, you go back to the well.

Matt Damon: And sometimes, you play Reindeer Games.

Ben Affleck: See, that’s just mean.

As an amalgamation of Smith’s work to date, this film also works surprising well as a stand alone feature in its own right. Sure, an appreciation of Kevin Smith’s earlier films would be helpful, but even without that, there’s still a lot to enjoy here. This is an homage to great film, and written and directed by a movie lover just like you and me. It’s a film for film geeks by film geeks.

Jason Mewes is not an ‘actor’ by any stretch of the imagination, but no one else could be Jay. The same could be said for Kevin Smith as Silent Bob. But together they are Cheech & Chong lite. A couple of hapless stoner losers getting caught up in adventures. Their world view is limited to crude humor, 80’s music and classic movie references, and if you can related to any of that, then you’re going to really enjoy this ‘Doobie’ from Smith.

Movie Prep:

If you’ve seen and enjoyed Kevin Smith’s work prior to this movie, then I have no doubt you’ll get a kick out of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. If you haven’t seen his earlier work, then I suggest you watch Clerks, Mall Rats, Dogma and Chasing Amy first. It’ll help you understand a lot of the references , and also be fun as all those films are entertaining too! This movie is rated R mainly for bad language, and drug use.

Best Format:

This isn’t a big visual extravaganza, and will entertain equally on any size screen you care to watch it on.

Best Moment:

I loved the scene when Jay imagines a world taken over by the apes. A hilarious blend of the original Planet of the Apes movie, and Clerks!